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Statistics:

• Length: 595 km (Singleton to Muswellbrook: XX km)
• Northern Terminus: New England Hwy (NH15) at Wallangarra, at the Queensland Border
• Southern Terminus: Pacific Hwy (A43) at Newcastle West
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route: Singleton, Camberwell, Ravensworth and Muswellbrook

Route Numbering:

• Current: M15 A15

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: HW9 (QLD border to Branxton) 1

General Information:

M15 / A15 is one the major routes in New South Wales and Queensland. It links the farming regions of NSW to the ports at Newcastle and also to other major roads to Sydney and it's also a link to Brisbane's metropolitan area.

The route consists of single carriageway 2-lane rural highway, through to multi-lane divided sections and motorway standard closer to Newcastle.

History:

The New England Highway originally formed part of the Great Northern Road from Sydney via Wiseman's Ferry to the Queensland border (near Mt Lindesay), taking shape as settlement spread northward from the lower Hunter Valley. By 1851 the Great Northern Road had reached the Gap, two miles beyond Murrurundi. In 1858 it was classified as one of three Main Roads in the colony (Great Western and Great Southern) and extended from Morpeth via Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Murrurundi and Tamworth, to Armidale, a distance of about 236 miles. Captain Martindale, Chief Railway Commissioner, who was also responsible for roads, stressed the need for bridges as in many cases long circuits had to be made to find a crossing over a stream. In 1860 arrangements were in progress for building 90 culverts and minor bridges and for forming new sections of road, including a new ascent to Murrurundi Gap, which was previously steep with sharp dangerous turns. In 1865 the section of road between Muswellbrook and Murrurundi was metalled and a deviation suggested between Blandford and Murrurundi to skirt the Page River, obviating two bridges, however, such a deviation was never constructed. With the construction of the Northern Railway line from Newcastle, commenced in the 1850s and reaching Murrurundi in 1872, attention was diverted away from roads and sections of the Great Northern Road were in poor condition. Despite the impact of the railway, roads developed steadily and considerable progress was made in the bridging of rivers and creeks. 2

• March 1933: The Great Northern Road was proclaimed the New England Highway. 2
• 1934: Completion of new alignment from the hill beyond Koolbung Muswellbrook and Aberdeen. 3
• 1936: Completion of reconstruction between Singleton and Deadman's Hill. 4 Also reconstruction between] Camberwell Deviation and Grasstree Hill. 5
• 2006: Commencement of construction of new railway overpass and highway realignment at Halcombe Hill between Muswellbrook and Aberdeen. 2
• June 2011: Completion of resurfacing works at Singleton, between Kelso Street and the Council Information Centre. 6
• June 2012: Installation of around 60 metres of pedestrian fencing on the western side of the New England Highway from south of William Street to the rail overpass. 7
• 20 November 2016: Work starts on rebuilding a 1.6 kilometres of the New England Highway near Milpera Drive at Muswellbrook, improving line marking and installing kerbside barriers. The work also included minor drainage improvements. 8
• July 2019: Completion of the Main North Line rail bridge over the highway, known as Gowrie Gates. The existing rail bridge was replaced with a new bridge which provides increased horizontal clearance. This allowed for widening of the highway to accommodate two travel lanes with wide sealed shoulders and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, plus access for wide load heavy vehicles. 9

Preview:	Description:
	NEW! Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Singleton approaching Campbell St and Cambridge St, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Campbell Street & Cambridge Street: Corner of New England Hwy (A15), Campbell St and Cambridge St, Singleton, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Hunter River: New England Hwy (A15) as it crosses Hunter River via Singleton Crossing at Singleton, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! White Avenue: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and White Av, Singleton, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Camberwell: New England Hwy (A15) as it enters the town of Camberwell, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Camberwell: New England Hwy (A15) as it enters the town of Ravensworth, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Hebden Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Hebden Rd at Ravensworth, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Hebden Rd at Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Hebden Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Hebden Rd at Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Muswellbrook approaching Thomas Mitchell Dr, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Thomas Mitchell Drive: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Thomas Mitchell Dr at Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Muswellbrook: New England Hwy (A15) as it enters the town of Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Sydney St, Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on New England Hwy (A15) as it proceeds under the railway line at Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the railway bridge, William St and Market St in Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the roundabout with William St and Market St, Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Aberdeen St, Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Aberdeen Street: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Aberdeen St, Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	NEW! Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Muswellbrook, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of A15 between Muswellbrook and Tamworth Click here for the continuation of A15 / M15 between Seahampton and Singleton

1 Roads & Maritime Services, Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads, August 2013
2 Roads & Maritime Services
3 NSW Government, State Archives and Records, F228 - New England Highway. S.H. 9 [State Highway]. View of new road looking east from hill beyond Koolbung bet. [between] Muswellbrook and Aberdeen.
4 NSW Government, State Archives and Records, J32 - S.H. 9 [State Highway 9] - New England Highway. Patrick Plains Shire. Reconstn [Reconstruction] bet. [between] Singleton and Deadman's Hill.
5 NSW Government, State Archives and Records, J59 - S.H. 9 [State Highway 9] - New England Highway. Muswellbrook Shire. Reconstn [Reconstruction] bet. [between] Camberwell Devn [Deviation] and Grasstree Hill. View near Gardiner's Creek.
6 NSW Government, George Souris, MP State Member For Upper Hunter, Resurfacing Completed On The New England Highway At Singleton, 10 June 2011
7 NSW Government, George Souris, MP State Member For Upper Hunter, Pedestrian Improvements For New England Highway At Muswellbrook, 31 May 2012
8 NSW Government, Michael Johnson, Nationals Member for Upper Hunter, Media Release, Road Improvements Start On New England Highway At Muswellbrook, 16 November 2016
9 NSW Government, Roads & Maritime Services, Project Page, New England Highway upgrade and rail bridge replacement at Gowrie Gates

Last updated: 16-Sep-2021 23:15

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